The PERFECT hard boiled egg

My dad called me last night and asked me how long he should boil an egg for the PERFECT hard boiled egg. I told him I thought 15 mins but looked it up online and this is what I found:

Egg Size Degree of Doneness Time Required
Medium Soft-cooked yolk 3 minutes
Medium-cooked yolk 5 minutes
Hard-cooked yolk 12 minutes

Large Soft-cooked yolk 4 to 5 minutes
Medium-cooked yolk 6 minutes
Hard-cooked yolk 17 minutes

Extra Large Soft-cooked yolk 5 minutes
Medium-cooked yolk 7 to 8 minutes
Hard-cooked yolk 19 minutes

I was close!!

EnjOY!!!

YUMEEE

Dawn

fall soup and salad

Broccoli Cheddar soup

2 tbsp butter
1/4 small diced onion
2 tsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken broth
1/2-2 cups cheddar cheese shreds
1 cup broccoli

add butter to pot and saute onions until soft
add second pat of butter and add flour to make a rue, "cook" the flour until caramel color
add chicken broth
whisk with rue
boil to thicken
add cheese ( more or less to your taste --i like more :) )
melt cheese then add broccoli

Simmer for 5-10 mins until broccoli is tender crisp


Fall harvest salad

bag of veggie lovers salad
1-2 Roma tomatoes
cooked and crumbled turkey bacon (I bake it in the oven for 3-5 mins)
1/2 English cucumber
1/2-1 diced gala apple
1 diced avocado
1/3 cup strawberry balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Handful of nuts of choice
1/4 craisins


Mix all ingredients in bowl and chill

Grill 1-2 boneless skinless chicken breast on foreman grill with salt and pepper

Cut into strips and serve over the salad.

Marinara

Here ya go Steph!!

I made this in my crock pot and its super easy!

2 tsp each squeezeable garlic and basil

garlic powder
salt
pepper
2 tbsp italian seasonings
1 large can crushed tomatoes

Mix all ingredients and put in crock pot on low for about 5-6 hours.

ENJOY!!!


YUMEEE


Dawn

Garlic Hummus

I thought I posted this already but apparently I did not. At least I can't find it anyway so I am reposting per Jolene's request.

1 can chick peas ( you must peel the shell off the peas)
2 tbsp chopped garlic
1-2 tsp lemon juice
salt/pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

Put all ingredients in a food processor and stream in the oil as it blends until smooth.

I like to eat hummus on pretzel crisps.

Enjoy!!!


YUMEEE


Dawn

Vegetable Lo Mein

This is a great recipe for a cold night and a quick dinner!

THANKS to my guest blogger--MARIA SHEVLIN

1 pkg stir fry noodles--2 in one pkg, use both

3/4 can bean sprouts
1/2 cup snow peas sliced on an angle
1/2 chopped onion
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup julienned carrots


Add tsp of oil to pan
Add garlic and onions to the pan and lightly brown
Add rest of Veg
Add 2 tsp of soy sauce and mix well
Toss in the noodles and mix well
Cover and steam for 3-5 minutes until tender crisp

Serve with Green onion and sesame seeds

ENJOY!!!

YUMEEE

THANKS MARIA

Dawn

basiltomato creamy chicken

1/2 store bought rotisserie chicken
1/2 package of 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/2 can diced tomatoes (i like a kick so I used green chiles tomatoes)
1 tbsp basil paste
1 tbsp garlic paste
3/4 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper 3 turns of the Pampered Chef Grinders each

add garlic and basil paste in preheated pot
add cream cream
begin cream cheese to melting
use a whisk to break cream cheese into smaller pieces
add chicken broth
whisk cream cheese in broth as it melts
add salt and pepper
add tomatoes
add chicken and fold into mix
simmer 5-7 mins

I served it will homemade cinnamon applesauce (recipe is on blog) and brown rice.
Could also serve with pasta

Enjoy!!!

YUMEEE

Dawn

protein loading Strawberry banana yogurt pops

1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries and bananas
1 small container of plain greek yogurt
sugar free hawaiian punch drink


Put all ingredients in blender
blend until smooth but still thick


We "drank" half the mix and I made the pops above for freezing later with the extra.

The greek yogurt I used had 15 g of protein.
and the hawaiian punch is sugar free.

Enjoy!!!

YUMEEE


Dawn

chicken sausage kale soup

This is an adaptation from a sausage soup I have seen in Healthy Cooking Magazine.

1/2 lb of parmesan flavored Chicken sausage
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb kale (more if you wish)
2-4 tbsp garlic chopped
2tbsp basil PASTE
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup celery
1/4 cup diced carrots
1/2 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1/2 large can chicken broth


Take the chicken sausage out of the casing and place into about a tablespoon of olive oil.
Brown the sausage then add the kale

Wilt the kale down and add more oil
add onions, celery, carrots more garlic and basil
add tomatoes and the liquid

use the liquid to scrap the brown parts off the bottom of the pot
add broth to cover all the other ingredients.
add a bit of garlic powder, 3 turns of salt and pepper from the Pampered Chef Grinders


Cover and cook about an hour.

Serve with orzo or ditalini pasta and Fresh Locatelli cheese grated on top

Enjoy!!!

YUMEEE

Dawn

did you know....

chicken skin is heart healthy (baked not fried)

Best apple sauce you will ever eat!

3 lbs of apples for every 8ozs of applesauce you wish to make

Pampered Chef apple corer --contact me if you need to purchase one 856-287-1071

steamer

food processor

cinnamon

tongs



Core apples,

cut in half

place in steamer- flesh side down

steam about 5-6 mins.--you will see the skin puffed up and separated from the flesh

Use tongs to pull skin off of apple and discard

place apples in food processor

cover with a thin layer of cinnamon

Pulse until smooth

I place the apple sauce in jars --You can them to preserve it if you wish.

Enjoy!!

YUMEEE


Dawn

Aunt Pappy's Potato Salad

Aunt Pappy's Potato Salad

5-6 lbs potatoes
1 spanish onion
1/2 lb bacon
1 cup apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Boil slightly thick cut potatoes in salted water
chop onion
cook bacon then pour out 90% of grease
In same pot add all ingredients
salt and pepper to taste

Serve Hot

Enjoy

YUMEEE

Dawn

OH BALLS!

Chicken balls
1). Raisin balls
1 lb Ground chicken
1/4 cup raisins
1/8 cup walnuts
1/8 onion
1/8 cup carrots
1 egg
1/4-1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
1/2 tsp thyme


Put all ingredients but the chicken in food processor until almost puréed
Mix with chicken and add handful of raisins and walnuts to mix
Form balls
Bake balls for 20-25 mins

Balsamic fig jam

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3-5 figs cut in half
1/8 cup olive oil
Heat all ingredients in small pan for about 5-7 mins
Move to food processor and blend into a loose paste

2). Buffalo balls

1lb ground chicken
1/4-1 cup hot sauce depending on how much spice u want
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4-1 cup bread crumbs depending on how much hot sauce
1/2 rib diced celery
1/4 tbsp each salt and pepper
1/2 tbsp Greek seasoning Mix and form balls
Bake 20-25 mins
Serve with homemade blue cheese


BLUE CHEESE

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles


3). Asian balls

1lb ground chicken
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 rib scallion diced
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp grated ginger
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/4 tsp salt and pepper

Mix
form balls
bake 20-25 mins

DIP


1/4 cup soy sauce
1 inch grated ginger
1 stalk scallions ringed
1 tsp honey
1/4 cup peanut oil
Salt pepper garlic sprinkles
Whisk together chill or simmer on LO heat for 3-5 mins

4)chicken veg balls


1 lb ground chicken
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1/4 diced onion
1/4 cup grated carrots
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Mix
Form balls
Bake 20-25 mins


balsamic fig jam

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3-5 figs cut in half
1/8 cup olive oil
Heat all ingredients in small pan for about 5-7 mins
Move to food processor and blend into a loose paste

DID YOU KNOW.......

According to Alton Brown... Philadelphia Cream Cheese was NOT created in Philadelphia but in fact was created in NYC. It was named after Philadelphia because when it was invented, PHILADELPHIA was THEE hot and happening place so they wanted to name it with a popular name.

Homemade apple sauce

This is SOOOOOOO easy and BY FAR THEE BEST APPLESAUCE I HAVE EVER HAD!! 3 lbs apples ( I used my favorite gala) 3 tbsp cinnamon Apple corer steamer tongs Core apples cut in half place in steamer Steam about 10-15 mins until soft use tongs to pinch skin and it should pull away from the fruit put apples in food processor put in cinnamon puree until spplesauce consistency 3 lbs of apples made ONE 8 oz jar of applesauce YUMEEE ENJOY!!! DAWN

chicken stuffed peppers

2 turns of the pan of olive oil 1/2 lb ground chicken 1/2 small diced pepper 1/2 small diced onion salt, pepper, garlic powder ( enough to sprinkle a thin layer over the mix) 1/2 cup of instant brown rice 1/2 cup of chicken broth 3 medium or 2 large peppers cut in half lengthwise for stuffing you can also add crushed red pepper if you like spice add oil to pan add chicken, peppers and onions, salt pepper and garlic to saute pan that has a lid brown chicken (veg will be tender crisp) add broth and deglaze pan (scrap the bottom of the pan while the liquid is in the pan preheat oven to 350 degrees add rice and cover pan until rice is cooked (per directions on box) stuff the peppers with the mix I use shredded colby jack and put it on the top of the peppers. place oven pan into the oven for 12 minutes ENJOY!!! Yumeeemama Dawn

Chicken Salad

I could eat this everyday! YUMEEE 3 thin chicken breasts 2 tbsp tarragon salt pepper 1/4 cup Hellman's mayo 2 tbsp dijonaise 4 mini carrots 1/4 Craisons season chicken with salt pepper and tarragon cook chicken on the George Foreman Grill or bake the chicken cut chicken into small chunks cut carrots into small rounds mix all ingredients I served the salad in whole wheat pita bread. Enjoy!! YUMEEE Dawn

Orzo Salad

This was a great salad for my picnic today. I was pleased with the wonderful flavors this salad has. 1/4 zucchini 1/4 yellow squash small handful small diced red onions 1 cup dry orzo 1/2 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup water 2 tsp Pampered chef Greek rub 2 tsp tarragon 1/3 cup olive oil 1 whole lemon use broth and water to cook the orzo while the orzo is cooking small dice the veg mix all ingredients and squeeze lemon juice over the salad add oil MIX serve warm Enjoy!! YUMEEE Dawn

Hawaiian stirfry Yes I know Hawaiian and stirfry do not really go together but ahhhhhhhhh it tastes oh so good! You can also make this on a kebab which was my original plan but Sophia decided she want stirfry instead. Here it goes: 2 sirloin steaks 8 peeled and deveined shrimp 4-8 large scallops 1 small red onion chunked into quarters 1 cup of large pineapple chunks (I bought a wawa pineapple cup but wegmans also sells large chunks) 1 can petite diced tomatoes with liquid 1/2 can chicken stock 1 bell pepper chunked 2 tblsp garlic powder 2 tbsp onion powder 2 tbsp pepper 2 tbsp parsley 2 tbsp Italian seasoning 2 tbsp lemon zest 1 tbsp sea salt 2-6 turns of a pan of olive oil Mix all spices in a small bowl including the lemon zest Trim fat from sirloin and Cut the sirloin into 1 inch square chunks I laid out all my ingredients on a cookie sheet then sprinkle all the proteins and veg and fruit with 1/2 the spice mix Preheat a large pot with 2 turns of olive oil Add the sirloin with spiced side down when all pieces are in the pot, spice the other side, add another turn or two of oil as needed. Cook to desired temp. I like well done so I left me meat in the pot. If you like it less cooked then remove from the pot and set aside Add the onions and peppers, cook about a minute then add pineapple. ( add another turn of oil if needed) Push fruit and veg to side of pan and Add the shrimp and scallops to pan. Cook shrimp until opaque and scallops until the are lightly golden brown on each side Add liquid from can of tomatoes to deglaze pan Add chicken stock Add beef back to pot Stir and simmer for five minutes I served this over rice pilaf. Should you want to kebab them instead of stirfry--- Soak wooden skewers in water over night so they don't burn on the grill or in the oven Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or ziplock Baggie and marinate in the fridge overnight Skewer ingredients and grill or bake Serves 4 people YUMEEE!!!! Enjoy!!!! Dawn

follow me.....

spinach artichoke bread

Dough --makes 1 medium size loaf

1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp honey
1 cup water

Put flour in food processor, add honey, STREAM in water until it forms a ball of dough.

Put dough into fridge for at least 30 mins.

Filling

1/2 large can or one small can artichoke hearts drained
5-6 oz fresh spinach
2 tbsp chopped garlic
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper or one small serrano chili
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
olive oil

Add one turn of the pan of oil
add all ingredients and saute until spinach is deep green color

cool

Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick and 6-8 inches wide

place in pan or on cookie sheet

put filling across the entire dough

put 1/2 cup parmesan cheese over the filling (you can also add Mozzarella if you want)

roll from the top like a jelly roll

make two small slits in top of dough

bake about 60 mins or until dough is golden brown


MAYO DIP

2tbsp mayo
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Mix and dip!

YUMEEE


ENJOY!!

Dawn

cream of chicken

OMG this was SOOOOOOO delicious

I adapted this from a Kraft recipe

1 lb of chicken breast cubed
1/4 cup flour
salt
pepper
2 tbs thyme
olive oil
1 small can of chicken broth
1/2 pkg of reduced fat philadelphia cream cheese


pour two turns of the pan of oil
salt and pepper flour and chicken
dredge chicken in flour and brown cubes
remove chicken
add can of broth and deglaze pan with whisk
reduce heat to simmer
salt pepper and add thyme
add cream cheese and whisk in
add chicken back in to liquid
simmer for 10-15 mins

serve over brown rice

YUMEEE

Enjoy!!

Dawn

tip of the day....

I know when I buy fresh herbs, I can never use them in time without having to throw them away.

Garlic sits in the fridge until it is usually dried out and gets thrown away.

Thanks to Aaron McCargo know I know ( and in turn --YOU know) what to do with that garlic!

chop it and put into a jar with olive oil and refrigerate. It will stay good for a longer period of time!

EASY PEESY!!

Dawn

Happy Chinese New Year pot stickers

1 pkg wonton wrappers
1 phg crumbled feta
1 can of tiny shrimp or use fresh shrimp and cut it into small pieces
salt
pepper
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2=3 finely diced sundried tomoatoes

mix ingredients together in bowl

wet the edges of the wonton wrapper
put one tsp of filling in middle
fold wrapper over and press edges closed.

in a pan add 3 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp water

place wontons in pan and cover

check in 2 mins.

bottom should be crispy from the oil and top should be soft from the steam.

serve with low sodium soy sauce with diced scallions in it

Enjoy!!

Yumeee

Dawn

Dip night

I am not the traditional mom that says we always need to have a meat and potato meal. In summer we like banana splits for dinner on occasion and chicken for dessert. ;). We also LOVE dip night.

Tonight was dip night and here are the dips I came up with.....

Cream cheese avocado tomato dip
Beef salsa
Guacamole
Buffalo chicken dip
Spinach dip
Garlic hummus

Berry balsamic vinegarette for salad


I bought a new food processor today since the old one died last week and had a blast making stuff.

Cream cheese avocado dip

1 pack cream cheese (Philadelphia)
1 avocado
1/2cup sundriedTomatoes

Put into food processor and blend until smooth



Beef Salsa

1 lb ground beef
1 small jar of salsa (hot medium or mild)
1 can cream of mushroom soup

brown the ground beef
add salsa
add soup

Mix simmer

Serve warm (I have a mini crock that I keep it warm in so people can just take what they want and it is still warm for the next person)



Guacamole

http://yumeeemama.blogspot.com/2011/11/super-easy-guacamole.html

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 cans of chicken breast meat (near the tuna in the grocery store)
1/4-1/2 cup franks hot sauce (depends on how heated you like it)
2 celery ribs
1/8 onion
1 cup bleu cheese


Mix all ingredients except chicken in food processor until you have small chunks
Move into serving bowl
Fold chicken into mixture.

Can serve hot or cold just heat in microwave


Spinach dip


1 lb fresh spinach
2tbsp sour cream
2tbsp mayo
2 tbsp Chobani PLAIN yogurt
2 tbsp Thyme

put all in food processor and blend until smooth

Garlic Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans
2 caps of lemon juice or 1 whole lemon juiced
salt
pepper
2 tbsp fresh garlic or garlic powder
1- 1 1/2 cups olive oil


Put all ingredients in the food processor and stream in olive oil until the hummus is a smooth consistency

Berry Balsamic Vinegarette

5 strawberries
2-3 tbsp garlic
2-3 tbsp italian seasoning
salt
pepper
1-1 1/2 cups olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Put strawberries and seasonings in food processor
stream in oil
stream in balsamic

Taste and adjust seasoning to taste

YUMEEE

ENJOY!!!

Dawn

Tip of the day.....

Thanks to chef mccargo from the food network for this.....



Add a little sweet treat to your salad.....

Make candied nuts.

Boil 2 cups of water with 1 cup of slenda ( or sugar)

Add nuts - I used cashews and walnuts

Boil about 10-15 mins

Strain nuts

Put into a baking dish and bake on 250 for 15 mins

YUMEEE

Enjoy

Dawn

Tip of the day.....

I missed a day or two--been crazy week going back to work after a great break!

Tip of the day....

Use unflavored yogurt to make dipping sauces. Add lots of flavor for a healthy addition to the meal.


I am going to work on some yogurt dips this weekend.

Dawn

Tip of the day.....

Use Fresh garlic whenever possible. It makes a HUGE difference when you are cooking. I don't like to reek of garlic from smashing and peeling and cutting so I buy the economy size of chopped garlic in its own juice at the store.

Tip of the day....

Tupperware has a "box" that controls the air that hits the fruits and veg and they DO last longer but the box is big for the fridge.

tip of the day....

Staples to keep in the pantry....


diced tomatoes
chicken stock
brown rice
lemon juice



You can make uncountable dishes with these items hanging around the house.